What is the first step in the "shaping" procedure to teach a rat to press a lever?
A)Reinforce a simple behavior such as sitting up.
B)Mold the rat's body into the correct position to press the lever.
C)Press the lever a few times yourself, to show how it works.
D)Electrically stimulate the motor cortex of the rat.

Question

What is the first step in the "shaping" procedure to teach a rat to press a lever?​
A)Reinforce a simple behavior such as sitting up.
B)Mold the rat's body into the correct position to press the lever.​
C)Press the lever a few times yourself, to show how it works.​
D)Electrically stimulate the motor cortex of the rat.​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first step in the shaping procedure is to reinforce a behavior that is similar to the desired behavior. In this case, the rat may be reinforced for simply touching the lever or any behavior that involves interacting with the lever in some way. Once the rat has learned this behavior, the trainer can then begin to shape it further towards the desired behavior of pressing the lever.

What Is the First Step in the "Shaping" Procedure to Teach